Pest Control Technician Practice Exam

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for regulating pesticide use in the United States. This agency oversees the registration, distribution, and safety standards of pesticides, ensuring that they are used in a manner that protects human health and the environment. The EPA evaluates scientific data on the potential effects of pesticides on health and the environment before they can be marketed and used.

Pesticide regulation under the EPA involves risk assessment and establishing guidelines for the safe application and disposal of these chemicals. This regulatory framework is critical in managing how pesticides are utilized in agricultural, commercial, and residential settings, thereby minimizing potential negative impacts on ecosystems and public health.

Other agencies, such as OSHA, FDA, and CDC, have important roles in public health and safety but do not specifically govern pesticide usage. OSHA focuses on workplace health and safety, the FDA regulates food and drug safety, and the CDC monitors public health concerns and disease outbreaks. Therefore, while they are all vital to public health, it is the EPA that has the primary authority over pesticides in the U.S.